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Ugandan long-distance star Joshua Cheptegei has won Uganda’s first gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Cheptegei triumphed in the thrilling Men’s 10,000m final in an Olympic Record time of 26:43.14.

He smashed Kenenisa Bekele’s long-standing record of 27:01.17 set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi claimed silver medal with a time of 26:43.44 while USA’s Grant Fisher took bronze.

Meanwhile, Jacob Kiplimo fell off in the final 200m and finished eighth while Martin Kiprotich, the other Ugandan in the race, finished 22nd but posted his personal best of 28:20.72.

With the victory, Cheptegei is now both an Olympic and world champion in the 10000m. He had previously won gold in the 5,000m at the Tokyo Olympics but settled for silver in the 10,000m.

Cheptegei is also a World Record holder in both the 10,000m and 5,000m.

Halimah Nakayi will be on track in the Women’s 800m round one at the 2024 Paris Olympics Games today, Friday.

Nakaayi hit the global scene in 2019 after clinching gold in the 2019 World Championships in Doha.

However, along the way, she has met stumbling blocks that have slowed her growth, including missing out on the finals in the previous Olympics edition in Tokyo.

In her recent race at the London Diamond League, Nakaayi finished sixth as she set a new Ugandan National Record (1:57:26).

In today’s race, Nakaayi will meet strong competition, but her assignment will be finishing in the best three to clinch a slot into the semifinals of the thrilling race.

Nakaayi will have a chance to turn her fortunes around after missing out on the semifinals in Tokyo, but that will be known at 7:54 pm (EAT)

Ugandans in action today

Athletics

Nine Ugandan athletes will be in action today, but Uganda’s medal hopes lie on Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo, who will be racing in the Men’s 10000m at the Paris Olympics on Friday.

In the just concluded Olympics edition, Cheptegei and Kiplimo scooped silver and bronze medals respectively in the 10000m race.

This year, the duo, together with Martin Kiprotich, will have to stick to a plan of working together if they are to achieve the dream of returning to the podium.

Uganda’s plans face strong opposition from Ethiopia’s entourage which is made up of Tokyo’s gold medalist Selemon Barega, Yomif Kejelcha, and Berihu Aregawi.

Cheptegei has been silent this year since he kick-started his preparations to switch from track to the road.

This year, he has not taken part in any 10000m race, apart from his disappointing eighth finish in a 5000m in the Oslo Diamond League.

Even though Cheptegei has claimed three 10000m gold medals at the World Championships, he still awaits his first Olympics 10000m gold medal.

Several athletics commentators have made it clear that it’s (10000m gold medal) the only medal remaining for him to be confirmed at the Greatest Of All Times (GOAT).

Ugandans in action today

Athletics

The Ugandan athletes in Paris are in a high mood after learning of the prize money set by the Government of Uganda.

This was confirmed by Hon. Peter Ogwang, the State Minister of Sports on behalf of Hon Janet Museveni, the First Lady and Cabinet Minister of Education and Sports.

“For those who will get out with medals, the ministry under the National Council of Sports and the directive of the First Lady has provided 30,000 USD for a gold medal,” Ogwang revealed.

“That is 100 million Uganda shillings for a gold medal. We shall also have 50 million for a silver medal. Then we shall have 35 million for a bronze medal, and this money is ready,” he added.

The prize money for a gold medal has been doubled since Joshua Cheptegei and Peruth Chemutai were awarded UGX 50 M for clinching gold in the men’s 5000m and women’s 3000m steeplechase in Tokyo.

While for silver and bronze, Cheptegei was awarded an extra UGX 30 million as Jacob Kiplimo smiled away with UGX 20 million.

This year’s prize will further fuel the athletes’ dreams as they seek to get onto the podium in the ongoing Olympics tournament in Paris.

NBL Results | Tuesday, July 30

KCCA Panthers levelled the series after registering a 79-62 victory against UCU Canons in game two of the quarterfinals at YMCA Court in Wandegeya on Tuesday.

The Panthers set up a decider after levelling the best-of-three series in an emphatic style.

The Canons led the series with a well-deserved 80-60 victory but failed to seal the assignment in game two, stretching the series to game three.

The Panthers opened a seven-point lead (20-13) at the end of the first quarter, thus keeping in the driving seat throughout the game.

Davis Assimwe’s jump shot beyond the arc concluded the second stanza as KCCA Panthers extended the lead to 16 points.

After the long break, the ruthless Panthers further suppressed the UCU Canons as they opened a comfortable 25-point lead.

Despite the Canons’ fight in the final quarter, they trailed the Panthers by 17 points.

Emmanuel Odongkara was outstanding at either side of the court, scoring 12 points and pulling down 12 rebounds in a double-double.

Davis Assimwe scored a game-high 22 points and Ceasar Kizito added 12 points for the Panthers.

On the other hand, Abraham Isyagi (11 points) and Jerry Kayanga (10 points) scored double digits for the UCU Canons.

NBL Results | Tuesday, July 30

UCU Lady Canons registered a 68-58 victory against Magic Stormers in the National Basketball League playoffs at YMCA Wandegeya Courts on Tuesday.

The Mukono-based side secured a second victory in the best-of-three series to confirm a place in the semifinals of the ongoing season.

The UCU Lady Canons opened a three-point lead (18-15) at the end of the first quarter.

Nicholas Natuhereza’s charges took the second gear in the second quarter as they extended their lead to 14 points (27-41) going into the long break.

Coming from the long break, Magic Stomers limited the Lady Canons to only nine points as they trailed 11 at the end of the third quarter.

Despite a strong fight from Magic Stormers to level the series, the Lady Canons were the better side securing a 10-point victory.

Aziida Nabayunga (16 points), Hajara Najjuko (12 points), and Tracy Namugosa (10 points) managed to score double digits for the Lady Canons.

On the other hand, only Christine Nakito (14 points) and Kur Ajah (14 points) scored double digits for the Magic Stormers.

Ugandan medal hopefuls have finally arrived in Paris as they were pumped up to make a mark in the 2024 Olympics.

Joshua Cheptegei, Joshua Kiplimo, and Martin Magengo, who will compete in the 10000m final on Friday, arrived in the Olympics village.

Joy Cheptoyek, Esther Chebet, and Belinda Chemutai, who will compete in the 5000m women’s race, were part of the team that had just landed in Paris.

Faustino Kiwa, athletics team coach, further shared that the team is still taking shape as they expect more athletes to join the camp as the Olympics roll on.

“The three have arrived that is Joshua Cheptegei, Jacob (Kiplimo), and Peruth (Chemutai). The three were medalists in the previous Olympics edition,” Kiwa shared.

“We believe that they are here to defend their titles because they are in high spirits as well as in a good mood, and I am glad that the team is taking shape,” he added.

According to Kiwa Tarsis Orogot, Halima Nakaayi, Winnie Nanyondo, and Tom Dradriga are set to join the team after concluding their engagements in Europe.

So far, Uganda has been represented by two athletes in the ongoing Olympics that is Kathleen Noble in rowing and Gloria Muzito in swimming.

KIU Titans registered a 57-41 victory against JT Jaguars in the National Basketball League playoffs on Sunday evening at YMCA Cin Wandegeya.

The Titans sealed the semifinal spot after the second victory against JT Jaguars in the best-of-three series.

KIU Titans opened a 12-point lead (20-8) at the end of the first stanza as JT Jaguars were placed in the chasing park.

Tembo Kasereka’s floating shot concluded the second quarter as the KIU Titans went into the long break with a 15-point lead (29-14).

Coming from the long break, JT Jaguars returned fully energised as they took command of the third quarter (19-12). They concluded the period trailing the Titans by eight points.

Despite the fight in the second half, the Jaguars were limited to only eight points, trailing by 16 points at the end of the fourth quarter.

Kasereka Tembo (14 points), Peter Obleng (12 points), and Juf Mpiya (12 points) scored double points for the Titans while no player dropped double digits for the Jaguars.

JT Lady Jaguars secured a hard-fought 53-49 victory against KCCA Leopards in the National Basketball League playoffs at the YMCA Court in Wandegeya on Sunday.

The victory guided the Lady Jaguars to the semifinals of the ongoing playoffs since it was the second win in the best-of-three series.

Like game one, game two was equally close as the fans enjoyed an end-to-end encounter as either side left everything on the floor.

KCCA Leopards opened a three-point lead (10-7) at the end of the first stanza in the low-scoring but physical game.

The JT Lady Jaguars were limited to only 12 points in the second quarter as they trailed by 14 points (33-19) at the end of the second quarter.

Suudi Ulanga’s charges stepped up in the third quarter limiting the Leopards to only eight points as they cut their deficit to three points (41-38) at the end of the period.

Maimuna Nabbosa’s jump shot concluded the game as the Lady Jaguars smiled away with a four-point victory.

Rhoda Nagitta (13 points) and Brenda Kayaga (10 points) were the only two players to score in double digits while Mercy Batamuliza pulled down 22 rebounds.

On the other hand, only Perus Nyamwenge managed double digits for the Leopards after dropping 14 points.

Uganda Rugby Cranes settled for fifth place in the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup after edging Senegal 34-31 in a nail-biting encounter played at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

The decisive Sunday afternoon moment came when Joseph Aredo successfully converted a sudden death penalty after normal time had ended 23-23 and Extra Time 31-31.

Ivan Magomu gave Uganda the lead with a penalty but Senegal benefitted from Aredo’s kick that was intercepted for a touchdown under the posts and would stretch the lead to 10-03 before Magomu responded to make it a four-point game. However, Senegal scored a try shortly after the restart to take the lead to 17-06

Alex Aturinda grounded from the back of the scrum and Magomu converted to cut the deficit to 3 points (17-13) by halftime.

Alex Aturinda

Senegal stretched the lead with two penalties to start the second half before Byron Oketayot broke the line to set up debutant Arnold Ocen to touchdown under the posts with Magomu converting and following it up with a penalty to level the score.

Magomu would miss a match-winning penalty and the game went into extra time. The skipper missed the first kickoff extra time and Uganda changed the kicker with Joseph Aredo taking over the duties. The makeshift centre converted his first kick and Senegal responded in equal measure.

Timothy Kisiga scored for Uganda at the start of the second half of extra time but Uganda’s defence couldn’t hold for eight minutes as Senegal scored a try and nearly won the game but the conversion hit the uprights.